Haq

About The Movie:

When the husband Abbas (Emraan Hashmi) abandons his wife and children, the wife Shazia Bano (Yami Gautam) takes the help of the court to protect her rights and get justice. Inspired by the landmark Supreme Court judgement of Mohd. Ahmed Khan vs. Shah Bano Begum.

Critics Review :Story :-

‘Haq’ tells a story that feels both deeply personal and powerfully relevant. Loosely inspired by true events and based on Bano: Bharat Ki Beti by Jigna Vora, the film takes us back to the historic Shah Bano case that shook India in the 1980s. Director Suparn S Varma approaches it not as a courtroom chronicle alone, but as an emotional and thought-provoking retelling of one woman’s fight for justice—a fight that ended up sparking a national debate on faith, rights, and gender equality.

The film unfolds in the 70s and 80s, following Shazia Bano (Yami Gautam), who lives a quiet life in Aligarh with her husband, Abbas Khan (Emraan Hashmi), a respected lawyer. Her world comes crashing down when Abbas returns from Pakistan with a second wife, Saira (Vartika Singh). What follows is heartbreak and humiliation, leading to divorce after the dreaded words—talaq, talaq, talaq. Left with almost nothing, Shazia decides to take her fight to court, supported by her father Maulvi Basheer (Danish Husain), who stands by her unwaveringly. As the case climbs all the way to the Supreme Court, it becomes not just a personal battle but a larger moral and social reckoning that mirrors the struggles of countless women across the country.

At its heart, Haq is a simple story told with honesty and restraint—and that’s exactly what makes it so powerful. The film never tries too hard to dramatize; instead, it lets its emotions breathe naturally. The writing by Reshu Nath—from the story and screenplay to the dialogues—has a clarity that keeps you engaged throughout. The way the film captures the small-town essence of western Uttar Pradesh, through language, setting, and texture, feels beautifully authentic. Every frame, every line, seems to serve a purpose.

The performances elevate the story even further. Yami Gautam delivers one of her most mature and affecting performances yet. She plays Shazia with quiet dignity, never slipping into melodrama. Emraan Hashmi, too, surprises with his restraint—his Abbas isn’t a caricatured villain but a complex, flawed man. Their courtroom confrontations are intense yet heartbreakingly real. Danish Husain brings warmth and wisdom as Shazia’s father, and Sheeba Chaddha shines as Bela, the lawyer who lends strength and gravity to the narrative.

In today’s era of big-budget spectacles and formula films, it’s refreshing to see something like Haq—a movie that dares to be intimate, sincere, and socially conscious. Suparn S Varma directs with conviction, keeping the tone grounded and the emotions raw. The music by Vishal Mishra may not dominate playlists, but it complements the mood perfectly.

What truly stands out about Haq is that it doesn’t limit itself to being a story about one community or one woman—it becomes a universal tale of resilience, betrayal, and hope. It speaks for the voiceless and reminds us that sometimes, the simplest truths can be the most powerful form of protest.

Cast:

Emraan Hashmi, Yami Gautam

Director:

Suparn Varma